Bring me to life

[Dire Wolf]

Within the titanic woods of Kashyyyk a relatively small outpost hung far above the forest floor, though it was among the largest of the handful of "ports" on the uncivilized planet. Wrrorak Station was little more than a collection of shoddy buildings and a few landing pads, all of which were interconnected by sturdy wooden walkways that were embedded into the bark of the kilometer-long wroshyr trees. As the trees slowly grew they would widen as well to support the new height and weight, and even grow around the hardy wooden walkways. If built right, the catwalk could support the weight of just about anything short of a main battle tank. Wrrorak Station, being a Czerka slaver outpost, was certainly built right.

Ryn shifted his gaze about from behind the thick beskar of his Mandalorian helmet, scanning each and every aura that whipped around above each person's form. As time progressed, Ryn noticed that the color of a person's aura seemed to shift ever so subtly with their mood, and even (at times) their intentions. Most of them seemed to be of the same color, but that wasn't particularly surprising... evil seemed to only come in a few hues. Though a few of the men and women he saw were good, likely forced into the position, an overwhelming number were hardly worth the air that they sucked into their gullet. Fortunately, none seemed to be very keen on drawing the attention of a man they thought to be a Mandalorian, but he folded his presence deep within himself all the same.

The big man shifted his weight around before setting off down the walkway, it seemed that his armor was growing more and more uncomfortable the more he wore it. Though, that tended to happen when one wore armor that was specially designed for someone else, especially when they were smaller than one's own height. He tightened his grip around the handle of the light repeating blaster that he'd seemed to favor during the battle on that distressed favor. Though, Ryn wasn't all that great at shooting... so he preferred to use something that allowed him to get a considerable amount of shots off in a surprsing amount of time. He only needed to hit the target once, after all. Finally, Sol rested within a sheath on the bandoleer that was slung over his chest.

It wasn't a dream, Ryn, the thought had barely crawled from the dark corner of his mind before an explosion of others followed. Each one seemed to conflict with the next, and only served to confuse the big halfbreed man's mind from deeply thinking on the subject. "Why," he half mumbled into his helm, "why did she have to die? We were so close to actually leaving the Order." A few images of her face flashed by his mind's eye, each one was happy in one way or another. Oh how he missed that smile. He'd give anything just to hear that giggle once again, or see her features crease in one of those closed-lipped smiles.

His head shook mildly at what could never be, and returned his head to the task at hand: information. While Ryn was far from the greatist when it came to telepathy, he was certainly far better than Vesta... and far better at questioning people than any of the group. Save, perhaps, Sev. Besides, the three of them could easily take on the shadowlands by themself. If only Rasann and Rajah would have gone down with them, but no, they both refused to leave Ryn's side, for one reason or another.

That was when he saw it. The aura was rather remarkable, as there was just something about the mottled blue, purple, green, and soft silver that caught his eye. Though it wasn't necessarily the color, but the storm that should have curled around the emaciated feminine form like a hurricane, or at least like the minor ripples in a pond. There were none. The woman's aura was stagnant and dead, like that of a puddle in the mud. That pointed to one thing: Someone who could hide their presence in the Force, a Jedi. His jaw clenched tightly at the sight, his grip tightened even further on the pistol grip of his rifle. A low growl rumbled from Rasann's throat and he kept his body low, unsure of the new danger that his companion had detected.

He'd get this Jedi before she reached Sam, or die trying.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Wrrorak Station wasn’t exactly where she’d intended on going this day, but…who was she to resist the tide of the force when it pulled her in a specific direction? She had followed the trail, the bits of string-like force, the rumors, the dark whispers that had become associated with her target. The man she had been hunting seemed to enjoy leading her on a merry chase as he flitted from village to village, only to end up in this slaver outpost. If he knew she was following him, then he was either very intelligent in leading her here, or very stupid. Certainly she wasn’t about to want to show herself as a jedi here in this proverbial hornet’s nest of evil, and if that was his intent he was, indeed, a very clever fellow…but she doubted it. From what she’d seen of this poorly trained dark jedi it was more likely that he hoped all the other evil around here would keep her from sensing and finding him…THAT was foolish.

With her sabers well hidden from view, her leather armor not unlike any other street brand or home made type, and the blaster hitched to her thigh for show, she seemed quite the ordinary mercenary. The young Shadow was certainly good at her job at that. She knew better than to completely mask her signature in the force, she only folded that presence in enough to appear as any other sentient lightly brushed by its graces. Only enough to keep her senses working without hindering them by hiding herself completely. Besides, there wasn’t a race she knew of that didn’t have some minute bit of the force within them. In fact, she’d spent the last hour in a cantina with more than just the force sensitive she was hunting within it. More than one of them had attempted to find entry into her mind, and she’d only allowed them to read the most minute and boring details of her thoughts…she wanted service, she wanted to get on with her job, and she wanted to get the hell off this rock, but unfortunately she’d run into some kind of hitch in her plans and now she was denied all three. It seemed to satisfy them as their attention had turned away from her and she’d continued with watching her mark, reading his lips as he spoke to the slaver he’d met there.

Of course, her job couldn’t be quite so easy. Oh no…that just couldn’t happen. Sure enough, just as her mark got up to leave someone had deigned it a good idea to come and hit on the pretty, young, brunette. A roll of those multicolored eyes and a huff of air and she informed the man (teetering on the edge of a drunken stupor) that she was in no way interested in him. Standing, she’d gone to pay for her tab and then been about ready to move on. Exiting the wooden hut that housed the cantina, she made it about five steps before the man caught up to her again. Turning, and without a second thought, one fist went hurtling toward him in a blur of motion and sent the man sprawling along the wooden walkway. Her hand found that blaster and drew it, aiming it at her target in an idle threat…not that it was obvious. No, she looked to be quite serious as she glared down at him.

I thought I told you to bugger off? Frelling men don’t know when ta take a hint, so let me make it clear once more: GET LOST! If you don’t you’ll find yourself regretting it.

The mind trick worked easily enough with the man as intoxicated as he was…she didn’t even bother with any motion to solidify it. Her mind had pushed in, convinced him that it would be a very bad idea to pursue her further, and then she’d let him have his mind back, leaving the man blinking stupidly up at her before nodding and scrambling away even as she put the blaster back in its holster. Job accomplished. If anyone in there thought she was a force user now they were very good at discerning deception when they saw it, and she would have a problem sooner rather than later. Turning on her heel, those silver beads tinkled slightly as she searched for her mark once again and then started after him casually at a distance.

Even as Rasaan growled, Rahja let out a deep rumble and stepped in front of the two males. That large head came up under Ryn’s hand and nudged it several times sharply before turning and starting after the young woman at a swift trot, her claws clicking along the wood loudly. Pausing a little way away, the bha’lir turned her head to look back at Ryn and Rasaan from over her shoulder as if wondering what was taking the two so long. After a moment of their not moving, she huffed loudly and continued after the woman hurriedly. Talau heard and felt the beast coming before she ever saw it, but even so she pressed herself into the shadows of the great tree and waited, one eye on her target as her senses reached back to try and discern what it was that was following her. Imagine her surprise when she turned her head and saw those threads of force connecting her to the large bha’lir that was trotting toward her. Torn between curiosity and the drive to hunt down her prey, the jedi remained still for a moment longer. She didn’t feel threatened by the bha’lir, but…where did it COME FROM?! It wasn’t exactly like they were native to Kashyyyk…and the fact that one was following her sent up dozens of red warning lights. The bha’lir had stopped, several feet away and…for several long moments…the two just stood there looking at each other as if trying to puzzle one another out.

Go on, friend, you cannot follow me. Go back to where you came.

*No...you are other me. Stay with you.*

That had Talau's head tilting despite the fact that her target was distancing himself from her. "Other me?" What was this bha'lir talking about? She'd heard something similar from Wrex before...when he talked about Rhiss.

What do you mean friend? I don't understand...

*Other me...you, other me. Mate has other him, you other me...*

Now she was just perplexed. Just what in the name of the Winds and the Force was this strange and out of place bha'lir going on about?

[Dire Wolf]

The hot air of a long sigh left the blind man's lips and washed against the back of his polarized visor, fogging it up ever so slightly. Rajah... argh, he thought with no small amount of disbelief as she trotted right up to the emaciated female, that cat is going to be the death of me. The big man moved his rifle so that the butt of its stock pressed heavily against his shoulder as he moved towards this suspected Jedi Knight. Yes, suspected. Ryn only heavily suspected that this female was a Jedi simply because he could sense nothing, or very little, from her but his senses were not infallible. Far from it.

One hand pressed the feather underneath the beskar plate of his armor into his chest, and his thoughts promptly shifted back to the image of Talau smiling warmly at him. Would she approve of what he was about to do? Attack a person because he suspected that she was one of their brethren? And even if she was, it was highly unlikely that she was on that world for the sole purpose of attacking one of his crew mates. Talau's face drooped to one of dissapointment and hurt at the thought of what he was about to do to that Jedi.

Hurt and dissapointment flowed from her face to his own, and during that moment... he was able to see what he was allowing himself to become. It was the very thing that he loathed so desperately, and exactly what he vowed to his late love to never become. Suddenly, he found the need to explain himself to this female, suspected Jedi. Seeing as Rajah had essentially trotted up to the young woman and stared at her intently, almost as if she were waiting for the woman to do a trick. With a heavy sigh, the man started off towards the pair, and caught the tail end of what the woman said to the very insane bha'lir as a result. Nothing too incriminating.

With hope, she wouldn't suspect that he was Ryn Sundar, wanted renegade Jedi Knight and bereaved lover. The only real sign that he could possibly be that man was the small necklace that hung around his neck, above the gray beskar plate. The beads of his love held the nylon string together above the sunset-yellow crystal of his dead master, and that hung above one of the pale blue crystals of his former lightsaber.

Then, an odd thought hit him: why was it necessary to talk with her at all? Why not just keep his presence hidden while he broadcasts a thought towards her? If she was what he thought she was, then she'd hear his words... if not, then she'd be deaf and he could continue on with his job. Jedi, leave. Your presence here is a direct threat to my ward. The thoughts left his mind and flew out in a wide arch from it, though he was careful to limit the range. No need letting everyone with Force sensitivity know that there was someone of value on that moon.

Rasann prowled out infront of his companion and lowered his body towards the ground. Another low growl rumbled his vocal chords deeply, and his claws extended out from their position within his paws. Indeed, Ryn hadn't wanted to take the aggressive path with this one... but it never hurt to prepare for the worst. The big bha'lir barely noticed that the tall man had moved over to a bench that was grown into the tree, and had sat down on it. Though something told him that looking inconspicuous wouldn't help.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

The presence of another force user approaching hadn’t gone unnoticed by her, even as she spoke to the bha’lir. Even as the form of an armored mandalorian appeared over the rise of the walkway and touched the plate of his chest armor, something strange happened. The only way she could describe the feeling was a “pulse”…like some sort of energy had burst through her and suddenly the most pressing thought in her mind was only one thing…one person…

Ryn…

For a moment she gasped, her breath caught and a wave of emotion…of loss…swept through her. She bit it back stubbornly and took a deep breath. There is no emotion…there is peace. There is no ignorance…there is knowledge. There is no passion…there is serenity. There is no chaos…there is harmony. There is no death…there is the force. She felt herself calm considerably at the familiar and consoling words and the meanings behind them. With a sigh she turned her head to look at the mando as he settled in on one of the benches trying to appear cool and inconspicuous. What she heard next had her mentally staggering. For several long moments she was silent, attempting not to gape at the figure before her and the play of color around him. Reaching back through the force, she tested the feel of that presence, making certain to be as unobtrusive and unthreatening as possible. It…he…he felt so similar, sounded so similar. That pulse, that feeling, it had to be her feather…it HAD to be. He’d come, he really had come…it had worked.

…Ryn?

It was almost too good to be true, but the more she tested how he felt against what she remembered of him, the more she was certain it was him. She knew. The force didn’t lie that way. She had known him for too long, had been around him, loved him, for too long to not know her own lover when she met him, no matter how long they had been away from each other or how much he might have changed. Even if (force forbid) he had become a dark jedi, Talau was certain she would have been able to pick him out of a crowd. There were some things that just never changed.

You came. I almost thought I might have just dreamed it all and you hadn’t heard me, but you really came…

[Dire Wolf]

Rasann's threating and defensive posture almost insantly dropped to one of curiousity as he heard the she-jedi utter his companion's name in a questioning manner. Even the black stripped white bha'lir knew that Ryn was a wanted man, and most of the people that knew his name were out to make a considerable amount of credits. Slow and cautious were two words that perfectly described the bha'lir's movement towards his mate and the human female Jedi. After a tantalizing minute or two, the beast of a bha'lir managed to make his way over to the leather-clad woman, and looked up at her warily. Almost as if she'd attack at any moment, and he had to be sure that the attack could be easily evaded.

Sundar eyed the male bha'lir as he stalked his way over to the female Jedi and began to watch her with that "she wants to skin me alive" look about his body. Though he hardly noticed the creature. The female Jedi uttered his name and, at first, it sent a wave of controlled panic throughout the man's mind. His heart began to race at the prospect of what her recognize him could possibly mean, and her over-underthreatening probes at what little of his presence escaped his tight grip only caused it to race faster. She knew. She knew. He was going to be forced to protect himself. Osik. Osik. Osik. The big halfithiri man was almost instantly up and hastily trying to retreat from the Jedi, though he knew it was a fruitless effort.

It was very possible that this woman was more powerful than him, and Ryn could very possibly not sta-"You came. I almost thought I might have just dreamed it all and you hadn’t heard me, but you really came…" He stopped his hasty retreat on a dime. The words were somewhat digitized from his helm, but he could still recognize them as Talau's. But only barely. His heart quickly shifted from racing in fear to thudding heavily against his rib cage. So heavily, in fact, that he thought his armor would surely have been beating up and down with the rhythm of his heart. Grey Jedi Knight Ryn Sundar slowly turned his body about to face the woman he believed to be Talau, and gazed at her silently through his helmet. "T-talau," he asked, cautiously releasing more and more of his presence.

His knees felt weak, and a cascade of tears would have flowed down his cheek surely as the night sky. If it were possible, of course. Ryn's hands slunk up to the side of his helm and lifted it from his head, then allowed gravity to take hold of the hunk of steel and drop it to the ground. The now scarred face of Ryn Sundar was red, his nose made a sniffling sound, and his voice cracked. Tears were the only thing that was absent, "It.... it wasn't a dream," the comment was more to himself than anything else, "you're... you're alive..."

Rasann quickly dropped the wary stance and pressed himself up against Talau's thigh, rubbing his massive skull against her affectionately. He was big, but he wasn't stupid... he could feel the love that his other had for this female, and was foolish to previously act in such a manner. "... how?"

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

His panic…his fear…swept over and around her like a tidal wave crashing over a rock. It battered at her senses, eating away at the nooks and crannies of her emotions painfully, but still she stood strong…at least on the outside. Under that stony surface, she was feeling anything but strong. His leaving so swiftly upon seeing her there, hearing her voice and her saying his name…it tore at her and that tidal wave’s tumult of emotion swept in and added new water to the frothing sea that was already her own turbulent and painful emotions…an ocean sweeping over a rock and adding to the far more contained ocean within that hardened stone.

So he had truly left the Order…and he had truly left her. Why, then, was he here? Had she really dreamed that time in Silmorne after all, and he was simply here for some other reason and the force had simply been capricious and decided to have their paths cross? Rajah’s large body slunk down slightly, her ears folding backward as she crept tentatively over to her mate, looking as if she felt she were about to be attacked by him if she weren’t submissive enough. Creeping up to him on her belly, she licked the bottom of his chin and let out a quiet ‘murr’ sound that was about as pathetic to the ears as Talau herself felt. With a silent sigh, the young knight shook her head and knelt down, calling the bha’lir over to her silently…or attempting to. The large femme seemed less than willing to leave her mate’s side…not that Talau could really blame her. Well…perhaps it was better this way? She couldn’t see how, but…

“T-talau?”

She looked up, not even having seen him turn back around. The young brunette hadn’t wanted to see him leave and so she’d ignored his movements. Had he been seeking to kill her, he surely would have been able to…not that she would have cared at that particular moment. He pulled off his helmet, finally allowing her to see his face. Her already tight reign on her emotions strangled the surprise and sorrow that threatened to break through her barriers and out into the world. What had happened to him while she was gone? Who had done this to him…to her Ryn? The once boyishly handsome face was scarred across the nose and slightly at the edges of the eyes, those once baby blue eyes covered in a white mist that would forever obscure their physical vision. Who had done this to him?! Anger rose up in her like a deadly viper preparing to strike and sink its venomous fangs into her soul…fortunately it was wrangled before damage could be done…unfortunately, the second viper, a cobra named vengeance, had already dug its fangs in and was pumping its potentially deadly venom into her. She wanted to make whoever had done this pay the debt in their own skin.

“It…it wasn’t a dream, you’re…you’re alive…how?”

She’d stood, catching hold of that second viper and packaging it away to be dealt with later. Talau had barely even noticed the male bha’lir’s motions as he rubbed his head against her, Rajah still slinking in the shadows like she had been beaten and was fearful of further reproach. Only slowly did she creep up beside the young knight and nuzzle her, looking for some kind of reassurance. How could her other act so calm when they were both feeling so badly?! Talau herself wondered that at times.

Yes, I'm alive…people seem to forget I'm a jedi, even though I'm only a young knight. How? That’s…a long story…to shorten it considerably I’ll just say that your and Rem’s instruction of me in protection skills served me well, and I met a considerably friendly Akk dog.

[Dire Wolf]

Ryn could hardly believe his ethereal sight. It was Talau, without a doubt, as her presence and voice remained absolutely the same since the last time he had seen her those few long months ago. Contrasting his lover, Joy flowed from his heart like boiling water from a pot that was filled too much. He completely loosed his presence on the world, not caring at that point in time who else was watching or whatever: there was no reason to hide. A smile slowly crept across his face as he approached Talau, and the happiness in his heart grew with each foot step. It brought him closer to her. Rasaan, mirroring the big man approached the emaciated female, acted as if he hadn't seen his mate in a few life times. He happily liked Rajah's face in return to the pathetic lick on his chin, and in let out a quick purr when he heard the sound that came from her. It seemed that he was so overjoyed to see his mate that he followed her back to her other, nuzzling into her flank when she finally stopped.

"Akk dog?" his mouth said inquistively, but he sharply shook his head once in response, "nevermind. You're... you're alive. Thank the Force." Rippling muscles beneath his skin flexed and relaxed as he brought one of his armored arms around the small of her back, the other's fingers to rest against her opposite shoulder, and then slowly pulled her into a giant hug. At that point, he silently cursed himself for wearing armor, which barred him from feeling the warmth of her against his body. That silent whisper in his mind was given no quarter, however, as the shear joy of having his lost love in his arms once again cast it out. Oddly enough, at that point he realized what he was becoming because of her loss: a Dark Jedi. Look how he had treated her! A thought-to-be-Jedi at the time! That was how Dark Jedi acted!

He quickly pressed the side of his cheek into her temple, and closed his eyes in an attempt to stop tears that would never come. Old instincts die hard. "Talau," his voice let out a pathetically whisper, "I thought I'd lost you. I thought I'd lost myself." Fear once again cultured a plot within his heart, only this time it wasn't because of what he thought she'd do to him, or why. It sprouted from the fleeting thought of her being little more than a phantom: a seemingly random whim of his imagination to torture him once more. Only then did he hold her closer, tighter, almost as if she'd vaporize into smoke and escape his loving grasp. "Don't leave me again. Please. I couldn't bear it."

Rasaan decided that he couldn't settle for merely nuzzling into his mate's flank any longer, but instead he attempted to get her attention by licking at her face and pawing at her arm. As if he couldn't bear her to not look at him. Eventually, he settled for creeping along to her front, licking the underside of her head once, and curling up into a little ball at her feet. He hooked his head around her foreleg and nuzzled his massive skull into it lightly. "Please... you're real, right? Not something I'm dreaming up. I'm not crazy... right..?" Fear suddenly swept his heart over, and trumped the happiness. What if he was hugging air? What if she only smiled and faded into nothing? What if this, what if that. At this point, he'd take crazy over sane... so long as he had the chance to gaze upon her face for only a moment longer.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Mentally she winced as he let his signature flow free. Certainly he wasn’t hunting a dark jedi, but she WAS, and if Ryn had left the Order without giving up his sabers then they were hunting him also. The air around her almost seemed to still and grow intense as she radiated a feeling that all but said “SHHH!” through the force, as if he were shouting and his voice echoing off the large trees of the forest. He may not think it, but there was always a reason to hide…always. Especially when you were an Order Shadow. Rajah tensed and hunkered down for a moment as if she’d been scolded before sitting contentedly beside Talau. One hand had reached down to the bha’lir to scratch it along the head for a moment. She wasn’t upset at the big feline and she let her know it. At his question, the young knight nodded slightly.

Yes, an akk dog. He was amazingly helpful to me and it was difficult to leave him behind when I did. And yes, Ryn, I'm alive, albeit it was a struggle at first.

As he pulled her into that tight embrace, she sighed and wrapped her arms around him, relaxing against the metal of his armor. Since when had he started wearing armor? Pushing the thought away she almost sighed in frustration at the stuff. It was unyielding, chilly, there was nothing human about it and right now that was what she wanted from him…to feel HIM not the armor. At the press of his cheek to her temple she eased slightly, glad to finally feel something that was him…something she remembered as normal for them. She felt his fear bubble up, the irrational feeling washing against her and making her recoil slightly as it battered around her senses. He pulled her to him more tightly and she pushed back from him, wincing and hissing slightly as he pressed a bit too tightly on a few of the saber burns she’d gotten on Subterrel.

Ryn…you forget your armor doesn’t give way like you do…and you know I have to return to the Order. I have to find the man I was after just now and then return. They need me, Ryn…more than ever they need every jedi they can get.

That had hurt to say…to tell him she was leaving him to go back to the Order. They hadn’t planned things this way, it had never been their intent…they had planned to leave the Order and here she was telling him that she couldn’t. But she knew she couldn’t…not after what she’d seen, what had happened, on Subterrel. The Order DID need her…they DID need every jedi they could get. The sith weren’t just going to take that loss and do nothing in return. Dark jedi weren’t like that…they were tenacious and most times they were vengeful. With an order full of them, she couldn’t imagine it being any better…her injuries told her it wouldn’t be better. Talau had to laugh at him, though, as he asked her those questions.

Yes, obviously I'm real. If you can’t tell that I'm real by now, you never will. No you’re not dreaming. Are you crazy? I wonder sometimes…

[Dire Wolf]

((this was kind of a spontaneous mod/add on... but feel free to control the character after this post as you see fit. I only did this for simplicity's sake.))

It didn't take long for Ryn to realize just what he'd done by letting his presence, his power, roam free and flow wide: it had jeaprodized her. The man quickly wrapped his presence tight around his form like a cloak, its warmth serving little to console the chill deep within his skin. Her response to his question was, odd, as he hadn't had a clue what an akk dog was... but he was happy that something on that world had helped the girl wrapped up in his arms to survive. His grip around her back released its strength as he felt an echo of her pain, and realized that he was wearing armor and not clothing.... he'd hurt her. The man twisted his head around and kissed her brunette hair, though it looked more like a multicolored blob. At that point in time, he wished that he could see her real face... more than anything else in the galaxy.

His voice was little more than a purr, and he closed his eyes while he spoke... for reasons beyond him, "I lo-" Ryn was cut off, not by Tal... but by a warning he received from the Force. Merely one of those cautionary growlings that warned him to stop moving, move, or just shut up. It was at him to shut up. Sure enough, she spoke to him. Before he had a chance to think, he found his jaw and tongue flapping out words that sounded a bit cooler than he'd ever have intended them to be. "Is that your purpose for being here, then? Recruitment? Perhaps," he finally caught himself, though he didn't stop his train of thought... simply his tone, "you do realize that I can't return, Talau."

Ryn's presence was weak, though detectable, and it almost instantly retracted at her words. Like one would draw their hand back from a hot piece of steel, or shortly after being hurt by the one they trusted the most. Rasaan mirrored this, as he almost instantly yelped and practically flew away from the side of his mate. His striped form quickly melted into a ball of trembling fur, which was an odd sight to behold. He found himself releasing his hands from her back entirely, and allowing them to fall at his side. Ryn's cheek also fell away from the top of her head, and his eyes gazed down into her eyes. "I am innocent, and they would know, but what of our love? Wouldn't they ask why I left? Can't they tell truth from lie like day and night? Wouldn't you be discovered then, too, and be expelled?" He winced, as those words came out a little colder than he intended. Again, he forced them to be warm. "Talau, I love you. Easily more than life itself. I would go through the most horrendous torture a man can inflict upon another... but I cannot go," his hand moved to rest on her shoulder, "it would mean you would be expelled from the Order. Its obv-..." No. Ryndark Sundar caught himself right there. Right. There. No more would he allow his mouth to spew words like a geyser. "I... I'm sorry. If there is a way for me to go back, and us to stay there... I wou--"

Another cautionary growl rumbled at his heart. This snarl of the Force wasn't telling him to be quiet, or to stop moving, but rather to dodge. Time slowed to a crawl as he looked into the aura of his lover, his Talau, and realized that he couldn't even see those eyes that he treasured so deeply. Those eyes that shifted in color and hue with her mood, but his imagination told him just what color it likely was. Her portrait gazed at him through his mental image, and she had a look of pain buried deep within the beautifully articulated lines and curves of her face. Her eyes were a deep blue and grey, in his imagination, and the mental image of the woman so close to him made his heart ache with pain. And remorse.

The growl returned, only this time it sounded more like a roar of warning rather than a cautionary growl. He didn't care. Ryn could have been skewered with his own blade and he wouldn't have batted an eyelash, his own powerful heartbeat hurt far more than the worst pain he'd ever endured. Without warning, Ryn pulled his arms back and threw each at Talau's shoulders. Not for the purpose of hurting her, but rather to avoid whatever the Force was baying at him to move from. Both ends of his orange saber sprung to life just in time to deflect the furious arc of Force lightning away from his armored shell.

Snap-hiss!

His blood ran cold at the all too familiar cacophony of a lightsaber's blade springing forth from its metallic hilt. The man's armored form was little more than a sweeping blur as it flashed between the source of the terrible noise and Talau. "You won't touch her," he snarled out, "and I'll cut off every finger that tries." Rasann almost instantly uncurled his massive form and swept over to Ryn's side, snarling all the way, and coiled up like he was about to unleash a deadly pounce on the Dark Jedi.

The loving warmth that had previously been held within the expression of his handsome face had melted away, and been replaced by the chilly look of wrath. His blind eyes regarded the man's aura, it was one as black as night... yet held no turbulence. Force Concealment. The hue of the Dark Jedi's saber was a deep, crimson red, one that reminded him of the blood that gushed from the wound of the pirate captain as he crushed him with his rage.

"Hnn. Surely, you weren't speaking to me, mando whelp. I'll cut off far more than your fingers, and help myself to that pretty little piece of tail that you got behind you to boot." The black form of the Dark Jedi didn't twitch a muscle as he held his bloody red saber almost casually to his side. It was likely arrogance born of skill that caused him to speak to the Mandalorian looking Jedi in such a fashion, though it was also very likely that the man was simply trying to goad the man into attacking.

At any rate, it worked. Rage poured into his heart like water into a pot, and it quickly boiled over the edge of his heart and flowed out into the area surrounding him. No-one talked about Talau that way. The powerful muscles of his jaw flexed tight and taut, causing an uncomfortable pressure to build in them as his blind eyes gazed upon the Dark Jedi. His rage, it bayed at him to move forward, to skewer the Dark Jedi upon his furious orange blade. "Angry now, are we?" the man goaded further at the sight (and feel) of Ryn's fury, "its quite alright, boy, you can have what's left of her after I'm through."

That was it. That was the straw that broke the bantha's back. One wouldn't expect such a large, armored man to be able to move in such a quick fashion. But he did. His massive, beskar-clad form was upon the Dark Jedi's in a lightning fast blur of motion. Sol's furious orange blades whipped around, Ryn's body whirling with them, at the middle of the Dark Jedi's torso at a horizontal angle. The Dark Jedi simply ducked below the angry orange blades and stuck his foot out at the most opportune moment... Ryn instantly fell to the ground with a heavy thud as his foot caught the Dark Jedi's with the whirling motion.

The Dark Jedi simply chuckled and backed away, bending his upper torso over so that he could look over the now prone grey Jedi with little worry for his feet. "Impressive. Most impressive. I'm sure that the ground is a suitable adversary for the likes of your kind." He looked back at Talau, "wouldn't you agree, woman?" Taking that moment as the opportune one, Ryn whipped his blade up at the Dark Jedi's head in a futile attempt to behead the wretch... his attempt was simply met with a dodge and a scintillating crimson blade at his throat.

Ryn stopped almost instantly, what with his neck about half a millimeter away from being punctured. His glare, however, was full of ice and daggers... and if looks could kill, this Dark Jedi would be impaled thousands of times over. "Tsk tsk tsk, this one's impulsive," he glanced up at Talau, "perhaps I should put him out of his misery. Hmm... no... I have a better idea."

Without another word, the Dark Jedi stomped on Ryn's hand. After seeing that the force user didn't release his saber, he touched the blade to his throat just enough to cause a burn... but not to open the wind pipe. Ryn winced in pain, but didn't relent... he gripped his lightsaber like it was his only life preserver in an ocean of harm. The Dark Jedi stomped again, and slipped a tendril into the a crack in the Jedi's mental wall, which was riddled with cracks from his anger and pain. "Let go, little Jedi, or you'll lose your head instead of a layer of skin."

Ryn let go, and the Dark jedi collected his enemy's lightsaber the minute that it left his hand. He glanced at Talau once more as he kicked Ryn's side before kneeling down. The Jedi hunched away from the strike on instinct, and as a result couldn't adequately react to the blade leaving his throat... which was replaced by an iron grip. He hissed as the rough skin pressed harshly against the burn on his neck... but could do nothing about it.

The Dark Jedi pointed his lightsaber at Talau, and spoke without looking over. "I'll be with you shortly, little thing." Ryn instantly felt a malicious presence enter his mind, and it caused a chill to run up and down the length of his spine. Little did he know, that chill was his enemy locking him out of his basic motor functions. "T-t-," Ryn's telepathic thought was quickly (and painfully) cut off by the Dark Jedi. Now was no the time for final messages, now was the time for pain and suffering. Lots of pain and suffering.

Ironically enough, Ryn found himself reliving his earlier comment: he was going through one of the most horrendous torments that one man can inflict upon another, for her.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

“Is that your purpose of being here, then? Recruitment perhaps? You do realize that I can’t return, Talau.”

At first all she could do was stare at him, disbelief filling her mind and heart. The threads of color that had twined in her eyes swiftly faded into a deep grey as she bit back the pain and buried it deeply…another drop in the ocean of emotion she had stored away. The only thing she could do was attempt not to bite back…though she doubted her ability to do so.

Yes, Ryn, that is exactly why I'm here…to recruit you. That was why I was here days before you arrived…because I have no other duties in the Order, such as hunting down practitioners of the dark side.

I believe, Ryn, that you can return, you just have no reason to try.

"I am innocent, and they would know, but what of our love? Wouldn't they ask why I left? Can't they tell truth from lie like day and night? Wouldn't you be discovered then, too, and be expelled? Talau, I love you. Easily more than life itself. I would go through the most horrendous torture a man can inflict upon another... but I cannot go, it would mean you would be expelled from the Order. Its obv-...

Again she was silent, the turbulent emotions in her fighting to be free of the restrains she had on them. Slowly she focused on her breathing, willing herself to calm. There is no emotion, there is peace. Several times she repeated the line within the confines of her mind, letting it echo around and attempt to soak in to soothe those agitated emotions once more. Outwardly, she stoically let him rant at her, attempt to tear down what she’d said to him, then almost attempt to tell her what was and wasn’t important to her.

It’s obviously what, Ryn? Obviously more important to the safety of the galaxy than my own wants or needs? Obviously the truth with the new order of Sith force users out there wreaking havoc and mayhem and fear upon those I took an oath once to protect? Or perhaps you were thinking that it’s obviously more important to me than us and obviously where I’d rather be and what I’d rather be doing…because that makes perfect sense. I would obviously prefer to run headlong into death and danger while fighting sith masters and tuk’ata in dark caves…it gives me a thrill. No, Ryn, I don’t believe you know what is obvious. I will stay with them because I MUST…because if I don’t they will lose another jedi that they will desperately need before the end of this.

Now…I must go and deal with the true reason I was here on Kashyyyk.

She, of course, was meaning the growing warnings in the force that were washing against her. The very same dark jedi she had been after before Rajah and Ryn had caught her. He was returned now, heading their direction and so she had to go and deal with him due to Ryn’s foolish actions. Her words to him had been calm and even, but there was a bite behind them…and truth. She would just have to deal with the repercussions of her words later.

“I... I'm sorry. If there is a way for me to go back, and us to stay there... I wou--"

She had already started moving, walking calmly and (seemingly) unsuspectingly in the direction of the warning vibrations through the force as Ryn struggled with himself. Seeing the dark jedi come up around a bend in the wooden walkway, she already felt the pressing weight in her mind, giving her the (not so subtle) hints of what to do and how to react to whatever this dark man had planned.

…That was before Ryn shoved her aside and put himself in harms way.

Idiot! What did he think she was?! Did he really think that she was so incapable of protecting herself or sensing danger?! Staggering back and catching herself from falling she watched Ryn put himself between her and the dark jedi once more and speak. Rajah had already slunk down the path toward the shadows where Talau had first hidden, melting into them surprisingly well and allowing the dark jedi to pass her black form so she could later creep up behind him and strike at an opportune time. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge…Talau had already started creeping tendrils of her senses and mind toward the force user. Concealment or not, he would make a mistake, there would be a flaw, and she would be there to find it. Concealment wavered, it fluctuated, with concentration on other things…she would be sure to be there when it happened and then she would have him. Even as the malefactor force user spoke, she simply remained calm, formulating her reply to him swiftly. It wasn’t swift enough, however.

Rage washed against her…but not from their opponent…it was from Ryn. For the first time she eyed his orange blade, and him, swiftly changing the target of her senses and mind. What was this about? Why the sudden anger? It wasn’t the Ryn she knew…the Ryn she knew didn’t act this way…didn’t become so angered so swiftly. Calm was pushed toward her lover, even as the dark jedi spoke. She didn’t care what he had to say, that man’s words were like so much white noise to her ears…she was practically deaf to him…but Ryn reacted anyway. In a moment he was gone from her sight in a blur of motion. The interaction was swift, over in a matter of moments as Ryn went flying backward and landed hard on the ground. Her heart found her wanting to make the dark jedi pay for that…and she would…but she knew better…she had to be smart.

“Impressive. Most impressive. I'm sure the ground is a suitable adversary for the likes of your kind. Wouldn’t you agree, woman?”

One elegantly shaped eyebrow arched slightly and she nearly started to speak when Ryn proved, once again, that he was acting on emotions and not thinking, lashing out with that orange saber before finding himself pinned to the ground by the dark jedi’s red on at his throat. She rolled her eyes at the situation and Ryn’s actions, allowing her irritation to roll outward in one simple wave before locking the emotion back down again.

“Tsk tsk tsk, this one’s impulsive. Perhaps I should put him out of his misery. Hmm…no…I have a better idea.”

There is no passion, there is serenity. Talau stood, an impassive statue, allowing the threat to roll off her like water, her calm emotions allowing her to see and do what Ryn couldn’t because of his hot temper. She had what she wanted. The dark jedi was becoming more and more involved in Ryn’s actions and letting his concealment waver and flicker at the apparent lack of threat the woman held. It was his downfall. As he reached out mentally to Ryn, riding the waves of the pain caused by stomping on his hand, she infiltrated. Following that thread that suddenly formed between the two, she wound her mind around it and followed it back without touching it…slipping past his faltering concealment and finding that telepathic center. The dark jedi had become complacent, it seemed, feeling no threat from the “ordinary” woman and finding the armor clad jedi no match for him in his current state.

…It allowed minuscule cracks to form in the defenses of his mind, allowing her in further.

Ghosting her way in, she eyed the situation as Ryn was kicked in the side and recoiled on instinct, leaving himself open to the grip that closed around his throat. With no saber, and apparently not thinking, Ryn was defenseless. That red saber was pointed vaguely in her direction and she smirked slightly at his words.

“I’ll be with you shortly, little thing.”

Ryn’s thoughts bounced back to him from off of her strong mental walls, her mind not allowing anything access. She could feel the dark jedi working on Ryn telepathically and so, if the man thought about it, he could likely ride the thought right to her mind. Not that he thought she was a jedi, after all. She smirked slightly and shook her head, knowing every move the dark man was making…or attempting to make. He was good, but she was better….and now she knew it.

I think that you’ll be “with me” now, sir, because…you see…I am here for you.

Her thoughts tightened on that dark mind like a noose, her mind already in position to lock down every function the dark jedi had at his disposal. Within moments he found himself under a mental bombardment from within, his body seizing up and causing him to pull his mind away from Ryn. Puppeting his motions, Talau found the arm gripping Ryn’s neck and pulling it away before locking it down again. Supremely calm, the young brunette walked over and stepped around both men, collecting Ryn’s saber before puppeting the dark jedi into deactivating his and handing it to her as well.

You are found guilty of acts of treason against the Republic, Nomak Jorrar, as well as acts of atrocity against citizens of the Republic, murder, impersonation of Jedi, kidnapping, destruction of public property, terrorism, use of force abilities for harmful causes outside of self defense, holocron theft and selling, as well as possession of a lightsaber. I have been sent by the Jedi Council to attain your lightsaber as well as see that justice be done for your crimes. You can either come quietly back to the Jedi Council or we can do this the difficult way…the choice is yours.

She’d kept a firm hold of his mind, keeping him silent and still in that kneeling position. Her voice was calm, cool and strong as she listed the many crimes against him, then offered him the chance to come quietly with her. Being in his mind, she already knew the answer, but she let up on his vocal functions just enough to let him reply for himself.

“Y-you’re….a…jedi! I’ll….never go….quietly!”

Talau sighed and nodded once.

Yes, I thought as much. Yes, I'm a jedi…you assumed too much and that was your biggest mistake.

Pulling Talon from a pouch on her belt where it sat hidden, she ignited the violet blade.

Nomak Jorrar, because of your resistance and refusal to be returned to the Jedi Council, I have instruction to end your life.

There is no death…there is the force. May it accept you back.

With one swift motion, that heated blade swept through the dark jedi’s neck, sending his head tumbling away even as she let go of his mind to allow him freedom of movement. Shutting her saber down, she turned and looked down at Ryn, not saying a word.

[Dire Wolf]

Blind eyes blinked as Talau politely and sarcastically threw Ryn's reasoning back into his face, and even called him out on the part that he refused to tell her. Even in his regrettably emotion-driven state, the grey jedi knew that his almost-comment was an audaciously false one. The very notion of Talau willingly pick the jedi over Ryn was an idiotic idea: they were going to leave together for the Force's sake! She had a sense of responsibility, that meant that he would as well.

During the short fight with the Dark Jedi, and while Ryn found himself at the mercy of the said malicious Force User, the Grey jedi found himself undergoing a revelation of sorts. If he didn't somehow survive this, and that Dark Jedi turned his mind into a base organ, his last words to Talau would have been... horrid. They would have caused unnecessary pain and suffering, and certainly would have made her remember him radically different than he wanted her to.

He didn't want that.

That change in Talau's view meant that he changed. For the worse. If he continued along this path he would fall, and become no better than the man who was practically strangling him with his mind and body. Not only that, but Tal would likely be sent after him... and be forced to kill him or bring him back.

Nor did he want that.

It seemed that something, namely Talau, had given him a second chance at life. Surprise revealed itself with the Dark jedi's sick orange eyes, and within a few moments the Dark Jedi's hand pulled away from his throat, his presence doing the same from Ryn's mind. Surprise was the first thing to flicker through Ryn's mind, though not nearly as much as was in the Dark Jedi's heart when he discovered that Talau was, in fact, the Jedi knight.

The events after that seemed to be a blur as Ryn's mind worked feverishly to restore the Order that the presence had thrown into chaos. Misplaced memories were restored, broken thoughts and emotions on people long passed were mended, and the many memories of Talau were once again brought closer to his heart. As his focus once again went outwards, he saw that the Dark jedi was dead and Tal stood over him... simply looking. The effect of a faceless aura staring down at you was... creepy... at best... but he knew she was far more than that. It hurt him, to imagine the look of pain and disbelief that surely shone in her eyes. Though it was far more likely a look of nothing: numb.

"Tal... I... I'm sorry. For earlier. For even thinking that you'd rather be doing this than be with me. For everything else I said. For pushing you. I... need to go with you. If not to be with you for a few extra days, just to get help... and to help the Jedi. To go back to what I was... and stop being this." Slowly, he stood up and straightened his legs. He knew that Tal loved who he was, and likely hated the hot-headed quick to rage... thing... that he'd become. The Jedi would help. Peace would help.

A single, dark thought crept into his consciousness from the deepest recesses of his cavernous mind. It told him that Tal hated him, or at the very least loved him less than she did before because of his emotionally driven actions. He doubted it was true, but regardless, he commented on it, "if you would take me back."

His hands quickly rid themselves of their rough leather armored gloves, and one moved to caress her face. Should she let him, his hand would gently drift along the soft flesh of her cheek, and his fingers would lightly hold her jawline. This affectionate petting was often the way that Ryn showed his love to the woman of his dreams before life threw too many things at once at them. Her death, his fall from grace, her return, and his foolish wish to stay mired in the desolate conditions of his new life. Ryn had nearly made a foolish decision, and hoped beyond hope that she didn't fall out of love with him because of it.

Just then, another little bug crawled from the darkest recesses of his mind. Its little voice whispered gently in his mental ear, "perhaps she was just a phantom, Ryn. The way you acted she may as well soon become one to you. What would you do then?" his mental answer to that was nothing. In truth, he didn't know what he'd do if she left him right then and there.

He didn't want to find out. That was for sure.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

After looking down at Ryn for a moment she let out a sigh that could be felt through the force, her weariness finally showing through that simple motion. Was she numb? Perhaps she was…she couldn’t tell any longer. Was she disappointed? Yes…that she was. The young rilan expected more of her lover than he’d shown her through his actions. A brief flicker of irritation, bordering on anger, clawed at her emotions…what had happened? Why had he acted this way? What had she done to deserve his harsh words? Was it so wrong to know where she was needed? No, she didn’t think so. From the time she’d met Seri at the temple, Talau had been informed of her heritage, her family’s history, and her people…with the life of a jedi and her duty as one already having been beaten into her by Shoal and Toth, the information Seri gave her had only cemented the idea into her…sewn it into her mind and etched it into the very fabric of her. She couldn’t just walk away…not when the Order that had saved her, fed her, clothed her, cared for her and trained her…given her everything she had and held dear (even…especially…Ryn)…Talau just couldn’t leave when they needed her.

That was when Ryn’s words finally filtered into her thoughts and she blinked, focusing her vision once again and watching him as he stood up. For a long moment the brunette was silent, thoughtful, as she replayed his words again and let them seep into her mind more completely. The fear and doubt he had rolled off of him, back toward her…he was afraid that she hated him, would love him less…he wanted to deny it, but he was still wondering…she could feel it through their bond, and she sighed at his words. Again she was quiet and unmoving, sorting through her own emotions…stepping back to look at them as a whole before untangling them to clear up the fuzzy mess they had created of the image of her heart and soul. As his fingers gently swept across her cheek and jaw, she closed her eyes lightly and enjoyed the simple sensation a moment before finally speaking.

Of course I’ll take you back, Ryn…I’d never planned to be rid of you, despite your actions. That just isn’t the way you treat the ones you hold dear…especially not when they need you most.

Blue eyes, threaded through with purple and grey, opened once more to look up at him as she clipped her saber back onto her belt and pressed her hands against the armor covering his chest and stepped closer to him.

I need you to come back with me, Ryn…I don’t just want it, I need it…just like you know you need to return. We won’t stay forever, love, I can’t…it…isn’t my fate to stay with them forever, but for now…for now that’s where we’re needed and where we need to be. Rem…is gone, and so is Latus…more and more are becoming disillusioned and the dark jedi have formed an order of their own…a Sith Order…I…I can’t just turn my back on the people who have given me everything of import in my life. At the same time...I need to know that you’re alright, to be able to see you.

I don’t care if the Council knows or finds out about us, Ryn…if we sincerely wish to help them, and don’t allow our feelings for each other to drive us down the path to the darkness because of we fear the loss of one another…then there shouldn’t be a problem.

She paused a moment, a strange bit of trivia appearing in her mind and making her smile, if only slightly.

Besides…the council suffers Corellian Jedi to marry and have families…why not a couple who are yet unmarried and have no family?

[Dire Wolf]

Ryn's brows knit together as he looked at his love's aura, and felt little more than numbness and disappointment through their bond. Knowing that the numbness was because of his actions hurt him, yes, but it was dwarfed by the hurt he felt by knowing that he disappointed her. While the man waited for her answer to his subtle question he found that his breath was held up tight within his lungs only to be released when he heard the answer. A smile refused to be barred from spreading his lips thin, and he found himself moving in to kiss her forehead.

His arms once again found themselves around her slender form, and he noted just how slender she felt. Ryn couldn't help but notice his fingers could start to feel her ribs, and she just felt... skinnier... in his arms. Even with his armor on. He elected not to ask the question, and keep it locked tight behind the one room within his sprawling mind that he kept hidden from her as best he could. That room also housed his kiss with Sam, the destruction he caused on Zeltros, and his own intentions when he believed that Talau, not knowing it was her, was a Jedi.

For that long moment Ryn found himself simply enjoying her presence. He couldn't feel her touch against the hard, unforgiving steel plates of his armor... but he could imagine it. Ryn imagined, remembered, the warm feel of her hand as it rested on its usual spot on his chest. He smiled at the memory. "I know, Tal, I know. I'm sorry."

He had pictured this moment for so long. Ever since he'd first learned of her "demise" so long ago. The Jedi yearned for this moment in the worst way for too long, dreamed of it, daydreamed of it, had horrid and pleasant visions, but none of them involved acting like a two year old who didn't get his way.

Silence was all that he responded with at her second statement, at first at least. He knew about the Sith, and that they marched on the Republic... but not that they had controlled the Empire. Nor did he know that Rem and Latus had left her. Disappointment. It panged against his heart like a heavy gong when he realized just how terribly he'd let her down. She needed him, in more ways than one, and he'd practically spit in her face. Tal didn't track him down to recruit him, that was an idiot notion, she just needed him to come back so she wasn't alone. Despite this, he found himself whispering out an overly simple and broad reply, "I-... I'm sorry. I didn't know."

After another long silence, he replied to again, as well as commenting on her old angry ranting, the one about what was obvious. "I don't either. I just... know that the Order is important to you, so its important to me. I left them out of grief, thought I was honoring you by doing what we planned."

He thought for another moment longer, on what he was about to say. Ryn made sure that he meant to actually keep this promise, and would have the ability. "I don't want to leave your side again, Tal. Not unless I have to." It was likely, as it wasn't exactly like the Jedi could control where he went. They could try, but he could always deny the Council of Reconciliation and follow Tal. It was audacious, yes, but he would be prepared to do it if need be.

After that was said, he offered one of his little shy smiles and moved his chin to rest lightly on the top of her head. For the longest time he'd used that motion to comfort her, to help her feel safe, but now he found that it worked just as well the other way around.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

((okay, since I want to get this moving along/done and don’t really know what to say I’mma just push this along.))

She had shut down, more or less, her mind a fortress despite his words and actions. It wasn’t that she was angry or upset at him, but rather…it was her temporary way of coping with her emotions until she could be in a more private area and sort through them accordingly…this wasn’t the place or the time. Even as he held her and settled his chin atop her head, the woman was already feeling the need to get moving again. Pulling away from his hold on her she looked up at him seriously for a moment.

Ryn…I, we, need to get going. I need to report back to the Council and you need to see the Council of Reconciliation. Do you still have the Star or do we need to take my transport from the temple?